On 23 September 2016, the Ville de Luxembourg unveiled the opening of “Haus 1”, the result of an ambitious project to renovate the former annex of the Civil Hospices at Hamm; the Municipal Council of the City of Luxembourg had approved the renovation project, designed by TETRA Kayser Associés, in June 2014.
The original building dated from the 1980s has undergone a huge transformation, for example the addition of fully furnished rooms, and clean up to improve its energy performance. The main changes are the creation of three kitchens, one per floor, a big living room on the ground floor, two other living rooms on the first and second floor respectively, and a caretaker on the ground floor. The bathrooms have also been renovated, meeting all the technical requirements.
In regard to energy performance improvements, the designers replaced the exterior carpentry and installed better performing technical appliances as well as controlled ventilation. In addition, they succeeded in resolving the problem of humidity and water infiltration below the building.
“Haus 1” consists of twenty-eight furnished rooms, eight of which are on the ground floor and are reserved for political refugees. The ten rooms on the first floor are designated to people who have lost their homes as a result of fire or eviction in Luxembourg City, while the final ten located on the second floor are for those who receive help from the pilot project “Supported housing for adults”, run by the Red Cross.
Each room is 14m2 in size and has a private bathroom. Only one person can occupy a room, but there is a shared, fully-equipped kitchen and living room on each floor. Minimum rent is €125 per month plus €250 fixed rates for refugees on RMG. The amount of rent varies depending on the person’s income.
The Ville de Luxembourg’s Accommodation Service is in charge of the administrative management of the building whilst the Red Cross, with its offices located on the second floor of “Haus 1”, assures that all residents behave appropriately.
